I chose to submit a fimir, because it was… already a work in progress. For me, the hobby is all about cutting corners and reaching results with the least level of effort. I’m a firm believer in “80/20″. Applied to the modeling hobby, one can say a model reaches 80% of the potential result when you’ve spent 20% of the total effort on it. For me, that’s a pretty good spot to stop in. Could I do another level of highlights? A few more glazes? Maybe a free hand pattern? Sure. Would it matter, in the long run? Nope. Instead I can spend the same time finishing another few models to an acceptable level… or browse interwebz forums. At least, it’s better than my old paint jobs from the early 90s.

There’s not much to say about the finished fimir. Gretchin Green base coat, washed with Devlan Mud and highlighted with Gretchin Green mixed with Vallejo Pale Flesh and Bronzed Flesh, and another wash of Gryphonne Sepia. The basing used is the same as on all my fantasy models. A 25 mm metal washer, with painted sand and static grass. Simple things!

It’s a bit more traditional in colour scheme than what the godfathers of Fimir (Mr Saturday and Fimm) have used, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I spent some unnecessary effort on the eye. A yellow eye ball with a black pupil would’ve sufficed. Instead I did a white eye ball, black dot, yellow iris and then a black pupil. Doesn’t even show in the photo. Nuts!

Coming up next over at the Creeps’ – Curis, master of elbow painting and sphincter trumpeting! Knock it out the box, Chris!

A while ago, Martin asked me if we should have a go at some Orc’s Drift. I (foolishly) said yes, and offered to paint the orcs. Here are the first five of the Vile Rune tribe. They were supposed to be an entry in the LPL this year (which I didn’t participate in).

Nobrot and his spear boys have pledged allegiance to Fangor Gripe, thus adorning their shields with the Vile Rune burning skull motif.

I tried a (for me) new approach when painting these models. In order to speed things up (the Vile Rune tribe alone is 40 orcs strong, and then there are the Severed Hands and Kwae Karr tribes) I decided to try pre-shading. I primed the ladz in a mid gray, washed with black wash and drybrushed them white. Then, using thinned paints and matte medium I could shave a little bit off the painting time. I’m not sure the prep work justified the time saved, but I liked the experience and the end results well enough.

Also, a small disclaimer of sorts. I like my orcs green. Not going to apologize for that. I also love the puntastic names (Bagrash!) of the mid 80’s and the mockney “Oi, ladz!” type of personas so if you’re allergic to typical GW orcs you’re in the wrong place.

Nazram, C15 Orc by the Perry twins (1985)

Orc from Talisman Adventure, by Aly Morrison (1986)

Orc Warrior by Kev Adams (1987)

Orc Warrior by Kev Adams (1987)

Shield Bearer, C15 Orc by the Perry twins (1985)

Initially, I dreaded painting all those shields (the Vile Rune tribe warriors come with a hand weapon and shield) – but after a first stumbling attempt (see Shield Bearer above) I found it a nice challenge to do variations on the motif found on the force chart sheets in the scenario box. I’m not very skilled at freehand so it’s all a bit ham fisted in comparison to others out there. Also, I decided against shading the bone etc – after all they’re orcs. They just want flaymin skulz!

Close up of shield detail

The next lot of 5 I do, I’ll include a group shot of the Vile Rune tribe and a few reference photos of their banners from the box. I managed to draft the whole tribe of 40 from the Orc Warriors pages 0501 and 0502, only having to add a few boys from other ranges. Hence the Talisman orc above.

Was going to post a bunch of orcs, but the photos were too poor so they will have to wait. Instead, here’s an old D&D Miniatures Girallon (from the Night Below set) that I did a full repaint of recently. I had to do a little greenstuffing on him, filling a few gaps and sculpt over them with fur texture. Turned out good, but the piece on the head looks a bit like a head piece.

The fierce mutant ape, cornered by a hunting party of orcs.

As usual with repaints of D&D minis, the original miniature wasn’t much to write home about. Ever since I got the model, I have been looking forward to painting it though. Here’s a before photo, nabbed from the Internet.

Original paintjob of the Girallon.

I didn’t bother with priming or anything, instead I base coated the whole model in a leather brown and then just went to town drybrushing and washing everything up with flesh tones progressing to pure white.

Repainted D&D Miniatures Girallon

It’s a fun, dynamic model with an expressive face. Rather versatile too – it could just as well smash things to a pulp in a fantasy setting as in the grim darkness of the future. Now, I think I need to dig up the other Girallon model done by WOTC.

I suppose most people reading this is familiar with Abdul Goldberg. If not, let me Google that for you. A while ago, the Emporium of Rogue Dreams (on Facebook, that) joined in a collective challenge to create our own visions of Abdul Goldberg. I must be honest and say, this isn’t really my vision of Goldberg… it’s a bunch of stuff that I managed to fit together and shoehorn into the assignment. It’s ONE interpretation of Abdul Goldberg. I could make many more. So… who is this Goldberg, then?

It’s simple, Paulie. Hand over the datafax and nobody gets hurt.

Abdul Goldberg, huh? Let me tell you, that guy is as oldschool as they come! He’s been around as far as I can remember – but don’t let the outrageous clothing and graying beard fool you. Goldberg is not to be trifled with! While not completely without scrouples, in his days he have widowed more than he have wed. Those guys all had it coming… mostly.

I’ve always said it’s a blessing he’s a good guy at heart. It’s more than can be said about that green beast perched on his shoulder. What kind of freak gyrinx have wings?! An evil, vicious, insidious and utterly soulles bastard of a gyrinx, that’s what kind.

Gotta say though – since he settled down on McKemmler IV it seems like Goldberg found some sort of peace. We don’t run accross him as much, his crew isn’t jacking shipments or blasting other outfits the way they used to. I don’t know – maybe he’s planning something big, rumour has it he’s working with The Blacksmith… or against him. Blazes, I even heard some people claim that Abdul Goldberg is the freaking Blacksmith. Ha!

So there you have it kid. Goldberg… nobody knows where he’s from, and right now it seems nobody but he knows where he’s going. Exciting times, huh?!

An aging space scoundrel enjoying a space cigar…

With not much of the deadline left when I started the task, I first opted for a classic Rogue Trader figure without any conversion work… but I have had this idea about converting up this Reaper Bones pirate into a rogue trader. I thought he’d fit just fine as an Abdul and sat down outside with a cigar and my (rather paltry) bitz box.

The first few rough steps.

It started with a Reaper Bones Barnabus Frost model (see top left above). To space him up a bit, I figured he could use some Space Marine legs so out came the 90s marines I haven’t been able to flog for more than a year (top right). A few cuts and snips, and I found myself with the beginnings of a slightly dismembered rogue trader. To see if it’d work, I used (white) blu-tac and a RTB01 beakie for reference (bottom right above). I was pretty satisfied with where I had gotten in about an hour’s time (which mostly consisted of humming and hawing).

Finished conversion work.

I then continued with adding bits and pieces, and I even got to break out the green stuff. I’m not very experienced with green stuff so it’s always a bit disconcerting. But things turned out pretty fine… Here’s a run-down of the other parts used: The sword blade of an Hero Quest goblin, a plasma pistol and a power sword hilt from the old Ork Heavy Weapons sprue, and a bat-winged cat from Axiom/Jon/Beastface Miniatures. Finally I greenstuffed a cigar, knee pads, some details on the sword and a handguard to strengthen the joint where sword blade met hilt and hand.

The finishing touch to the competition entry was to stat the guy up in Rogue Trader. It was pretty straight forward stuff. As I’m not a grizzled veteran of RT, I only used what I could see on the model – with the exception of some smoke grenades that I figure old Abdul carries in his fanny pack if ever he needs to hastily abscond with some loot or other.

Yeah, I know – it’s not “legal” with a Cool of 10 if the model isn’t a psyker. I’m pretty sure Abdul don’t care, and neither should you…

Martin (of Shamutantis fame) and I got together for another game of Pulp Alley a little while ago. Once again, good times and many laughs were had so it’s looking to become as regular a fixture as our child laden family lives can allow. Next time, I’m heading to Copenhagen for some Rogue Trader skirmishing. Looking forward to that!

It was early morning yet, as Conrad Moon and his bruteish entourage made their way through the underbrush. It had been a long search, but it finally seemed like he would be able to lay hands on a fabled idol of the Raizze, the indigenous race of the forest moon Luis Rey Prime.

Unbeknownst to Conrad, scoundrel Morton “Balls” Fieldmann had overheard the drunken boasting of Demp and his ork goons at the space port cantina. Hoping to claim the idol and deliver it to the dreaded Blacksmith on McKemmler IV, Balls was now being escorted by the local Raizze chieftain and his closest warriors, under the false pretense of him wanting to help them fend off the outisder raiders and save their valuable cultural heritage.

An overview of the table.

Both groups have the same goal – get their mitts on the golden idol (the major plotpoint). A few generic boxes of supplies make up the minor plotpoints, together with a white crate containing a jetpack (extreme peril to take off and then an extreme peril to land anywhere on the table) and a stone statue with ruby ingots for eyes.

Balls ascended the ziggurat on one side, while Conrad Moon and his closest “men” approached it from the other side. The raizze tried to block off Demp from the divine statue in the clearing, but fell in the ensuing firefight. In the meantime, one of the orks was left behind to fiddle with the jetpack while the other two headed for a crate of supplies.

One of the raizze made the mistake to bum rush Demp, who was a very adept brawler.

Ork muscle Gumbah and Larma rushed to secure a box of… supplies.

Balls reached the summit first, and managed to uhm… “rescue” the golden idol – much to Conrad’s chagrin.

Demp was so tempted by the ruby eyes of the sacred statue that no amount of raizze could stop him from prying them loose.

With a bit of luck, Balls manage to put the ziggurat summit between himself and Conrad Moon – eager hands clutching the golden idol.

The last one of the three raizze troopers (and their lizard dog) standing tries to bring down Demp, with little luck.

Balls and the raizze chieftain defend the golden idol against the orks Gumbah and Larma, managing to fell Gumbah.

In the last turn, Conrad and Zyph attempt to take down Balls, while Demp continues schooling space lizards in the fine art of pugilism. He managed to take out three troopers and the lizard dog all by himself. Fenk is (very bravely) hiding behind some shrubs with his shiny new jetpack toy.

Despite a heroic last effort from Conrad Moon and his henchmen (henchorks?) Balls and the raizze chieftain manage to slip away. Not much later, the raizze leader surprisingly finds himself abandoned in the wilds with Balls travelling back to civilization all on his own.

We played a generic smash and grab scenario, which I feel really shows hos the game work. Dash for the plot points with your strongest guys, throw the weaker red-shirts under the bus as speed bumps. We had a good time, and decided to play a quick follow-up to this game the same day. A short report on that will be up next. In the long run, I’m still undecided as to whether PA is a game to stick with or not… It’s fun, but I get a feeling that there’s not enough consequence to the in-game action. Especially the leaders are nigh invulnerable and recover easily. Also, after a game there’s very little chance you’ll get any form of increase on any model (or the league itself) which means a campaign is pretty slow going.